Music for the LGBTQ Community
Music can really be a great escape, especially when you can relate with the lyrics. Although there are not many of them out there, some songs do so directly, or can be inspiring to LGBTQ individuals. Here are some songs I’ve come across.
1. “Same Love” by Macklemore and Ryan Lewis ft. Mary Lambert
This is a really beautiful song. It did, unfortunately get some backlash and a teacher was actually suspended for playing the music video in class. It has a really great message at the same time being a catchy track. The music video won “Best Hip Hop Video with a Social Message” at the 2013 MTV Video Music Awards. The song talks about marriage equality with the lyric “‘Til the day my uncles can be united by law” and it’s great to recognize that now, as of last week, they can. Love wins!
2. Take Me to Church by Hozier
This is another powerful song that speaks directly of the LGBTQ Community. This video is even more powerful, as it displays the cruel torture that the LGBTQ Community faces in Russia. Apparently, in Russia identifying as same gender loving and advocating for those rights is compared and assimilated with pedophilia, which is crazy.
It’s sad to still see comments against the Community, but Hozier really did make a statement in support of the LGBTQ Community, and same-gender loving.
3. I Kissed A Girl by Katy Perry
Most love songs out there refer to the binary of boy and girl, but Katy Perry decided to go against that, which was, and is quite new to pop music. “I Kissed a Girl” is recognized as the 10th best-selling single in the 21st Century. It did receive some criticism, especially because Katy Perry came from a past of singing contemporary Christian music.
Luckily, Katy Perry has only gone up from here, and is even releasing a new album next year.
4. Free State by Superhumaniods
I think this song was discovered by a lot of people through MTV’s LGBTQ-related tv show, “Faking It.“ I think it relates to the Community because it sounds to be about hiding your lover, which I feel is common, unfortunately, in the Community, if one has not come out yet.
5. Won’t Let Them Tear Us Apart by The Sounds
This song is upbeat, and also about “forbidden” love. It relates to letting other people control your love life and stop you from loving who you love. This happens all too often in the LGBTQ Community, where individuals are afraid they won’t be accepted so they may ignore attractions for fear of rejection.
6. Brave by Sara Barielles
This is a beautiful, upbeat, and inspiring song. Although it may not be directed at the LGBTQ Community, I think members can definitely relate. It’s a great message of being brave and being who you are, even if you are different than others. It also relates to speaking up and telling the truth, which can go along with being an ally and speaking out for the LGBTQ Community. Of course, the song is inspiring for anyone to just be brave!
7. Born This Way by Lady Gaga
Here’s another song about being yourself, no matter who you are. Again it does not relate directly to the LGBTQ Community, but I think many listeners believe Lady Gaga meant for it to be referring to orientation and identity. The beginning of the video actually talks about “a race that bears no prejudice and no judgement, but boundless freedom.”
I think that’s what we all hope for in the future, especially in the LGBTQ Community. In 2011, the video won “Best Music Video with a Social Message” at the MTV Video Music Awards.
8. Welcome to New York by Taylor Swift
While this song got mixed reviews, it does nicely refer to the LGBTQ Community with the lyrics, “And you can want who you want, Boys and boys girls and girls.” Although this is a very small reference, it is nice that Taylor Swift added it in, showing her support for the LGBTQ Community, and recognizing that we are people too!
9. Closer by Teagan and Sara
While this song does not refer to same-gender lovers directly, Teagan and Sara are often related to the LGBTQ Community because they both identify within the Community. Plus they are sisters, which is totally cool! This song is totally upbeat and fun, as their others are as well.
10. Cool for the Summer by Demi Lovato
This song just dropped July 1, and inspired me to write this article. I’ve been listening to it on repeat! I think it’s great that Demi is positively celebrating the LGBTQ Community. My only complaint is the lyric, “Don’t tell your mother,” still portraying a small way that it’s wrong to identify or experiment with a partner of the same gender or sex.
Also, a lot of people have compared it to Katy Perry’s “I Kissed a Girl.” Either way I think it’s great and I hope it gets better reviews and eventually hits the radio.
Finding songs that relate to your identity is always fun and definitely pretty rare, especially if you identify within the LGBTQ Community. Here are the ones I’ve found: enjoy!
What other songs do you know of that refer to the LGBTQ Community? Let me know in the comments!